Five great flat sandals under $200

I’m not along when I say that the flat sandal is both literally and figuratively the foundation of my warm-weather wardrobe. A good pair of flat sandals is both as comfortable as a pair of flip-flops and far more chic; they can provide a pop of color for an outfit or fade into the background if what you’re wearing is already bright. With as much as most people are out and about in the warmer months, heelless, comfortable shoes are a must.

The thing about shoes like these, though, is that no one wants to pay an arm and a leg for a few strips of leather attached to an unstructured sole. Whether designer shoe prices are every truly “justified” is up for debate, but at least when a shoe has a heel and a full upper, it feels like you’re getting more for your money. Even if the design process for the two is the same, these shoes just feel less substantial, which is part of their draw during summer. As such, we’ve set a per-pair limit of $200 and found five choices in a variety of styles for all your warm-weather needs.

Loeffler Randall Heart LR Selima Sandals, $175 via ShopBop